Convertible table and kit-case



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. E. BAXTER. CONVERTIBLE TABLE AND KIT CASE.

mmvron W J37. EMA-79;. by

Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

WITNESSES:

A TTOHNEYS.

All DREW IGRAHAM. PHOTq-UTNQWASHI NGIO" D C.

2 Sheets Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. E. BAXTER. CONVERTIBLE TABLE AND KIT CASE.

Patented Man 24 INVENTOH 'llzam A TTOHNE Y8 m, 5, I I g I h x 0 T M ANDREW BEHMMM PHUTWUTKQWASMINGTDN. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

\VILLIAM E. BAXTER, OF FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY.

CONVERTIBLE TABLE AND KIT-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,045, dated March 24, 1896.

Application filed May 3, 1896. Serial No. 548,027. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. BAXTER, of Frankfort, in the county of Franklin and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Convertible Table and Kit-Case, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a convertible table and kit case or box, and has for an object to provide a simple and inexpensive structure which can be folded into form to serve as a box or case for the papers or books of an army officer, or to inclose the utensils comprising a kit and the table legs and braces, or into form to serve as a fiat or grass table-or an elevated table, as may be desired; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the box closed and fastened. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the table erected. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box, the lid being raised to show the contents. Fig. 4 is an inverted perspective view of the table. Fig. 5 is a detail section on about line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail section on about line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing one of the sections of the support folded in full lines and open in dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating the detachable connection of the top brace of one support-section with the adjacent section. Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating the detachable connection of the strut-brace of one section with the adjacent section.

The box or case is composed of the sections A, B, O, and D hinged together at their side edges, and which may for convenience of reference be referred to as the top A, bottom 0, front side D, and rear side B, and the ends E. The top is hinged to the upper edge of the rear side 13, such side B is hinged at its lower edge to the rear edge of the bottom 0, and the front edge of the bottom (J is hinged to the lower edge of the front D. The edge of the top A laps over the upper edge of the frontD and forms a square joint; but as the hinge connections are arranged at the inner corners of the joints between parts A and B, B and C, and O and D in order that such parts may be folded out fiat to form a table top, as presently more fully described, it will be noticed that at such joints there are left rectangular recesses F when the parts are adjusted to serve as a box. To fill these recesses and thus protect the edges of the parts A to D from being bruised or marred I provide filling-strips G, which fit snugly in the recesses F, and are provided at their ends with spring-brackets which bind along the.

lVhen the parts Ato D are adjusted as shown in Fig. 3, they are held in form by the hooks which unite the ends to the front and rear sides. In this form the box composed of parts of the table serves to incase the so-called duffle or kit. hen the lid is closed, it is fastened by fastening-pieces 1, projecting from the ends of said lid and perforated at 2 to engage pins or studs 3 at the ends of the box. These fastening-pieces are rightangular or double-winged strips, one wing being secured upon and extending for a short distance along the lid and the other strip depending along the edge of the lid and projecting down alongside the end of the box and engaging the studs 3.

In storing the articles in the box I usually put in the supports or legs first, disposing the parts in such manner as to afford the greatest space for the bucket, coffee-pot, and other articles not necessary to mention and forming part of a well-equipped camp-kit.

\Vhen the lid is lowered and secured by the fastenings described or other suitable fastenings, a shawl-strap may be applied so it can be conveniently carried, as will be understood from Fig. 1.

lVhen it is desired to convert the box into a table, its contents may be taken out, the ends and filling-strips removed, and the sections A to D turned into a common flat plane.

In the under side of the table-top I form in proper relation shallow sockets J for the upper ends of the legs K, such upper ends constituting upward projections above the support composed of such legs and the top and strut braces. This support is composed of four sections, each consisting of a leg or upright K, a top brace L, and a strut-brace M. The leg K is provided about midway between its ends with an upwardly-openin g seat It, formed preferably by providing a mortise 7c in the leg and securing a spring-plate 7& at one end to the leg below the mortise 7c and extending it over and above the mortise, the upper end of the spring-plate being flared at 10 Near its upper end the leg has a seat K similar to the seat k, except that the seat It" opens downwardly. The top brace L is pivoted at one end to the leg a short distance below the upper end of such leg. The portion of the leg projecting above the top brace fits in the socket J of the table-top. At its free end the top brace has a tongue L fitting in seat K from below, provided at its end with a stop-flange L to prevent longitudinal displacement of the tongue when in said seat. This top brace is secured up in its seat fly the spring metal K pressing it into the mortise on leg K. The hook N, near the free end of such brace, engaging the eye or bearing 77. of the table-top, such eye or bearing '12 being flush or countersunk, avoiding any projection on the under side of the table-top or inside of the box, holds the table-top firmly to legs and at same time helps to brace and hold the top brace in its seat K. The strut-brace M is pivoted at one end near the lower end of the leg and has at its free end a tongue m fitting down in the seat 76 and having an end flange on looking such strut-brace from endwise movement. These tongues and seats form interlocking devices by which to secure the strut and top brace of one section of thesupport with the next adjacent section, forming a support which maybe easily erected and as easily put down, will be firm and secure in application and will occupy but a small space when folded into the box. The free ends of the braces butt squarely against the legs, this with the interlocking devices aiding in securing a strong bracing.

In Fig. 4 I show a brace which supports the center of the table, but is especially intended to brace the top when used as a fiat table upon the grass. This brace consists of crossed members which lap the joints of the sectional top, one of the members having slots fitting over staples on the under side of the top and being provided with hooks engaging such staples and forming fastenings, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A convertible table and kit-case having a sectional top and an elevating-support having legs and top braces secured at one end to one of the legs interlocked with the adjacent leg and forming underbraces for the sectional top and fastenin gs by which to secure the table-top to the support, substantially as set forth.

2. A support for a table-top comprising the legs having near their upper ends clownwardly-facin g seats, and the top braces j ointed at one end to one of the legs and provided at their free ends with tongues or portions engaging the downwardly-facing seat of the next leg, substantially as set forth.

A support substantially as described consisting of the several sections each composed of a leg, a strut-brace jointed at one end to the leg, and the top brace jointed at one end to the leg and interlocking parts between the ends of the braces of one leg and the adjacent leg including vertically-opening seats on the leg for engagement by the interlocking parts of the braces substantially as described and shown.

4. A support substantially as described, composed of the legs having near their upper ends downwardlyopening seats and near their middles upwardly-opening seats the top braces jointed to the legs and provided with tongues or portions engaging the d ownwardlyopening seats, and the strut-braces jointed to the legs and engaging the upwardly-opening seats, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus substantially as described, the support having legs provided with mortises and with springplates overlapping such mortises and forming therewith seats and the braces jointed at one end to the legs and engaging the seats of an adjacent leg, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the top, of 'the support comprising legs the top braces jointed near one end to one of the legs and interlocking with an adjacent leg and fastenings by which to secure the said brace to the top, and the strut-braces extending between the ad j acent legs substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the top having sockets in its under side, the support having the legs fitted at their upper ends to said sockets and provided near said ends with downwardly-opening seats, the top braces engaging in such seats and fastenings by which to secure such braces to the table-top, substantially as set forth.

8. A support substantially as described, composed of sections each consisting of a leg, the top brace jointed to said leg near one end thereof and the strut-brace jointed to said leg near the opposite end thereof, such braces being foldable longitudinally alongside the leg substantially as set forth.

9. A table-top combined with a support having legs and top braces, the top braces being interlocked with the legs and movable upwardly into such interlocking engagement and fastenings securing the braces directly to the table-top whereby to secure the same in interlocked engagement and thus hold the support to the table-top substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of the sections hinged together at the inner sides of their meeting edges whereby they may be adjusted flat to form a table-top or at angles to each other to form a box and forming corner-recesses in the latter adjustment, and strips fitted removably in said corner-recesses substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. A convertible table and box or case comprising the jointed sections, the fillingstrips fitting between the jointed edges of said sections, the metal spring-pieces secured to the ends of said strips and forming clamps for binding such strips in place, substantially .as set forth.

12. In a convertible table and box the combination With the sections forming the top of the removable filling-strips having metallic ends forming corner and spring fastening pieces for the box, substantially as set forth.

13. In an apparatus substantially as de: scribed, the combination of the upright leg having a vertically-opening side seat, and the strut-brace having its end formed to fit flat against said leg and provided with tongues or portions engaging the seat of and interlockin g with the leg substantially as set forth.

14. A table having a top formed in sections, a brace having crossed sections and fastenings by which such brace may be secured flat against the top sections and lapping the joints thereof substantially as set forth.

15. The combination substantially as described of the top, bottom and side sections jointed together the end pieces fitted removably between said side and bottom and top sections and detachable as described and fastenings for said end pieces substantially as set forth.

16. In a convertible table and box the combination with the sections forming the top of the removable filling-strips having metallic ends forming corner-pieces for the box, substantially as set fort 17. A convertible box and table comprising the sections jointed together and adapted to form the table top the top brace having crossed sections, fastenings securing such brace flat against the under side of the tabletop and the legs substantially as set forth.

- 18. A convertible box and table comprising the sections forming the top, bottom and sides of the box the hinges connecting such sections, the top brace having crossed sections and fastenings by which such brace is secured flat against the sections and lapping the joints thereof when such sections are adjusted for use as a table-top, substantially as set forth.

19. A convertible table and box or case comprising the jointed sections, the fillingstrips fitting between the jointed edges of said sections, the metal pieces secured to the ends of said strips and formingmetal corner-pieces for the box and clamps for binding such strips in place, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM E. BAXTER. WVitnesses D. W. LINDSEY, JOHN B. LINDSEY. 

